Primary CPD

In the words of David Waugh, '... punctuation can be a very powerful tool when we write, enabling us to express ideas in different ways and often substituting for the tone, volume and expression we are able to use in speech.' (David Waugh, Practical approaches to teaching punctuation in the primary school, 2022)

Whether you're a punctuation pedant or a grudging grammarian, GPS is a major part of the curriculum. So love it or loathe it, here I'm featuring brand new punctuation and grammar resources for every year group. 

25% of children left primary school last year without being able to read properly. Without this essential skill, children's life chances are severely hampered, but fostering a reading for pleasure habit in children is the greatest way of improving their literacy skills. 

Deborah Smith, an experienced paediatric occupational therapist, offers her advice to primary teachers on how to work with children who need additional support with their handwriting.

Jenny Mosley is an internationally renowned education consultant. Here she explores the importance of playtimes and how to make them happier and stress-free for everyone.

October marks Black History Month in the UK. Raise awareness and help children understand the importance of black history with our Black History Month resources for the primary classroom.

The coronation of King Charles III has necessitated a change to the KS2 SATs schedule this year, as the planned first day of the tests is now a national bank holiday. Therefore, the government has announced that the tests will take place as follows:

• Tuesday 9 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) papers 1 (questions) and 2 (spelling)
• Wednesday 10 May: English reading paper
• Thursday 11 May: mathematics papers 1 (arithmetic) and 2 (reasoning)
• Friday 12 May: mathematics paper 3 (reasoning)

Sadly, any SATs celebrations planned for that Friday may have to be changed. Where most schools are likely to be able to move events to the afternoon, the government has acknowledged that some schools may have trips or residentials planned. In these circumstances, schools can apply for TTVs (Timetable variations.) You can find more on this here.